File questions

[suhacycles]

Hey y'all,

Anyone have experience using files from Mercer Abrasives?

Also, is it a 14 or 16 inch round file that corresponds with the diameter of a 16mm seatstay?

Thanks,
HS

[ThomD]

A 14 inch Nicholson is 16mm 5/8" according to the catalog. That would allow you to fit something to the 5/8" stay, not fit a stay. Sounds like what you are after. I don't have that file, so I don't know whether it cuts smooth or not. Don't know Mercer at all.

[JimFrain]

I was using the nicholson 14 bastard today for brake bridges and SS caps and it worked VERY well...

[suhacycles]

Thanks... just makin' sure...

[e-RICHIE]

I use a 6" round file and then a 4" half-round one for my brake bridge miters. Both are bastard cut atmo.

[Jason Musgrave]

Richard,

I seem to recall you hell-bent on finding good files a while back - what'd you end up with?

[e-RICHIE]

Richard,

I seem to recall you hell-bent on finding good files a while back - what'd you end up with?

Atmo nothing I found is as good as Nicholsons when they were made in the states. So, all disappoint. I tried Grobet, two types of Simonds, and one other brand. I am extremely fussy about the edge on my 6" and 8" half-round bastard files. The edge on my 10 year old American-made Nicholson is sharper and cuts with better definition than any new part I buy. Sad really. My files are my hands, and no one elses work as well. It would be great to find old stashes....

[Luke]

I'm lucky to have found two full boxes of Nicholson's that belonged to my grandfather...sharp as ever.
You can't beat them. Today's steel is china-cheap.
Luke

[Luke]

05-01-12_2149.jpg

My stash of 20+ files...drool drool drool. LOL